Kenneth Branagh stars in National Theatre Live’s production of Macbeth – screened at the Heart of Hawick and the Pavilion Cinema in Galashiels.

Despite being best known for directing and starring in several Shakespeare plays, this will be the first time he has played a role by the Great Bard for more than a decade.

Alongside Branagh, as Lady Macbeth, is English actress Alex Kingston, who shot to fame after appearing in American drama ER and British favourite Doctor Who.

The show is broadcast from Manchester International Festival, and directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford and Branagh.

A spokeswoman for NT Live said: “This unique production of Shakespeare’s tragic tale of ambition and treachery unfolds within the walls of an intimate deconsecrated Manchester church.

“Kenneth Branagh has long been lauded as one of the great Shakespearean interpreters.

“His skills as a writer, director and actor have garnered international acclaim across the disciplines of stage, film and television, and he is the only man to be nominated in five different categories for an Academy Award.

“He last performed Shakespeare when he played Richard III at the Sheffield Crucible in 2002. Recent stage performances as Edmund at the National Theatre and Ivanov for the Donmar played to great acclaim.

“And in 2011 he completed a sell-out run of the hit comedy The Painkiller at the Lyric Theatre in his home city of Belfast.”

A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Kingston has performed in Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear and Love’s Labour’s Lost, amongst others.

She was recently seen on the London stage in Luise Miller, at the Donmar Warehouse.

In 2006, she played Nurse Ratched in the West End production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Christian Slater.

The spokeswoman added: “Rob Ashford has directed and choreographed productions on both sides of the Atlantic.

“From collaborations with the Donmar Warehouse and National Theatre to Broadway, Ashford has a string of nominations and awards to his name, including an Olivier Award for Anna Christie and nominations for A Streetcar Named Desire and Parade (Donmar Warehouse). He has a Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie and nominations for productions, including Evita and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

“He also won an Emmy for his choreography at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.”

Macbeth is screened at the Pavilion Cinema on Saturday at 8.30pm, £16 for adults and concessions are £14. Phone 01896 752767.

The same screening takes place on Wednesday at the Heart of Hawick at 7pm – tickets are priced £14 (£12 concession) and can be bought from 01450 360688.